, 1887-05-28
DECORATION DAY.
What 1t Mesns--A Big Time Next Mon
day, Etc.


Next Monday, May 80, is a national
and territorial holiday, made SO by con-
Eressional and Legislative enactment, by
which it has been set apart as the day on
which the graves of the dead who fell in
the late war, as well as of those who,
having served in that war, have died
since the clash of arms has been heard to
resound through the land. On that day
the Grand Army Ct the Republic espe-
cially see to 1t that these graves are decor.
ated, and this is done all over the land
not solely for the reason that each indi-
vidual Grand Army post chooses to do so,
but because, according to the rules and
regulations of that great order-which
numbers within its ranks a greater army
than Napoleon ever commauder-and the
orders that are annually Issued by its com
mander in chief, require this to be done.
1t should not be supposed for a moment
that the Grand Army of the Republic has
been organized for the purpose of keeping
alive the snimosities ~engendered by the
late war. for such is not the case. Nor do
the members of the organic alton muster
and march and parade in the spirit of
men who are endowed with an undue
pride because ofthe part they took in the
greatest war known to history. In Ma
poleon's time the soldier who had par
tlclpated in half dozen battles was con-
sidered an odd veteran" but there are
men in Cheyenne to-day who will march
in the parade on Monday next who have
seen more fighting and faced death a
greater number of times In ten days than
any veteran Of the Old Guard that fol-
lowed Marshal Ney in his last charge at
Waterloo, and yet there is probably not a
man in the John T. reynolds post or any
other post who ever gives these matters a
thought except when gathered by them
selves at headquarters. To decorate the
graves of the dead and keep alive the
spirit OF patriotism among the American
people is the mission and the only one
the Grand Army has to perform so far as
the outside world is concerned. Within
the organization itself it has a mission to
perform toward its v members, their
families, widows and orphans which need
not be alluded to here.
Extensive preparations are being made
for the exercises which are to take place
in Cheyenne next Monday, and there is
no doubt but that the occasion in this
city will be a grand success. In addition
to the ordinary exercises the G. A. R.
monument is to be dedicated at the city
cemetery, which will be preceded by a
trip of the Reynolds post to Fort Russell
tor the purpose of decorating the graves
there, the decorating of the graves at the
city and Catholic cemeteries, ETC., but the
main exercises and ceremonies of the oc
casion will occur at Keefe's hall on Mon
day evening, to which the public is invit-
ed, as are also all civic and military organ
~izstions In the city, who are also invited
to join in the parade.
In addition to the John r. Reynolds
post, the G. G Meade camp Sons of
Veterans, the Select Knights OF the A.
o. U. W., the Cheyenne fire department,
and probably the Maennerchor and sew
eral other societies will be out in full
force and join in the parade. For music
there will be the Cheyenne City band, the
G. A. R. drum corps, and an excellent
choir that will be in Prof. Pasmore's
charge.